YOG Dakar 2026-Djireye Clotilde Coly: “An event of this kind should not be thought of in terms of automatic and immediate return on investment”
Four weeks before the opening of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), Djireye Clotilde Coly wants to be reassuring. Guest of RFI morning this Monday, October 5, the Senegalese Minister of Youth and Sports defended the country’s state of preparation and the cost of the event.
“I confirm, Senegal is ready to host its Youth Olympic Games,” declared Djireye Clotilde Coly. “We are ready on the infrastructure aspect, on the security part, the testing part is also already done, so we are currently working on the mobilization and success of these Games,” she explains.
Asked about the roads around the Olympic swimming pool and on the site itself, still under construction, she dismissed any concerns: “All the subjects were taken care of with a very pragmatic dynamic and everything will be finalized before the Games. »
104 billion CFA francs: an investment, not a short-term bet
The forecast budget amounts to 104 billion CFA francs, or more than 150 million euros. Faced with the economic difficulties of the Senegalese, unemployment and high cost of living in the lead, the minister defended long-term reasoning: “Yes, the event itself is an investment for the future. When we talk about cost, we may immediately think of the return on investment. However, an event of this type should not be thought of in terms of automatic and immediate return on investment. It is rather in terms of heritage, of material heritage with all these sustainable sports infrastructures, since we are talking here about investment. So indeed, you have organizational expenses, but you have investment expenses on durable assets which will be exploited and valued,” maintains Djireye Clotilde Coly.
It highlights sustainable sports infrastructures, but also an intangible heritage: the skills developed and the businesses associated with the Games. She cites 6,000 trained volunteers and “civic and sports Olympic certificates” deployed in thousands of schools, with more than 900,000 young people trained. The immediate benefits will concern the hotel industry, restaurants, services and the arts. The minister adds that these Games must also prove the country’s capacity to host very large events: “The reality is that today, it is an investment that will bear fruit. »
Opening ceremony: “beautiful people” expected
On the opening ceremony, she promises “a very, very beautiful ceremony”. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye launched an appeal to heads of state at the United Nations, and invitations were sent. “We are expecting a lot of people at these Olympics,” she said, without giving a figure.
Asked about a possible invitation from former President Macky Sall, she recalled that this fell within the prerogatives of the Head of State, while dodging: “The question is perhaps not there. The important thing is to focus on the success of these Games. »
135 athletes and tickets between 1,000 and 5,000 CFA francs
On the sporting side, 135 athletes will defend the colors of Senegal. “They are ready to win medals, and we hope to have many,” said the minister, without a quantified objective.
For the public, 750,000 tickets are on sale, between 1,000 and 5,000 CFA francs. The minister says she is “gambling on popular success”, with the Olympic flame which is currently traveling to all regions of the country. “I am very, very optimistic,” she concluded.
OBN
